The Brookings Music Teachers Association sponsored its annual Piano Festival on March 8-9 at the Oscar Larson Performing Arts Center. Ninety young people performed their piano repertoire for adjudication in a total of 129 performance entries.

Students performing in the Solo Event include: Aly Bachar, Jacquie Bachar, Brodie Bahe, Jonah Bauer, Jack Bierman, Owen Bierman, Amber Brockberg, Sabastian Bui, Taponidhi Cherukuri, Elsa Clements-Johnson, Sylvia Clements-Johnson, John Collins, Koyer Deutsch, Liam Diercks, Lucy Diercks, Rachel Eberhart, Evan Ehrichs, Faith Ehrichs, Gabriel Ehrichs, Grace Ehrichs, Hannah Ehrichs, Carson Eichler, Nolan Eichler, Cora Eidem, Lydia Ellsworth, Madalyn Even, Brynn Froiland, Graham Gerlach, Ruby Gerlach, Jackson Hahn, Sydney Hahn, Evy Hamilton, Makenzi Hawks, Gavin Heermann, Samantha Heermann, Jack Jeppesen, Lily Jeratowski, Oscar Jeratowski, Jorgen Johnson, Kjersten Johnson, Trestin Johnson, Grace Klein, Cora Kleinjan, Amelia Koenig, Lane Koenig, Davina Lafomo, Adrian Lansang, Alex Liu, Louis Liu, Deja Manzey, Jericho Manzey, Frida Markel, Xochi Markel, Reid Melius, Autumn Merchant, Taiya Merchant, Arianna Meyer, Celeste Meyer, Dante Meyer, Joseph Michna, Matthew Michna, Alaina Mulder, Belka Naweji, Emly Naweji, Otto Nelson, Camden Olson, Emma Olson, Alaina Overby, Sasha Prager, Lincoln Quam, Blaise Ryland, Josie Ryland, Kallie Ryland, David Schmit, Brielle Smetana, Obed Sobolayi, Elise Ulvestad, Grayson Wagner, Aaliyah Wendinger, Kiley Westberry, Mae Wiese, Melanie Wiskur, Olivia Wiskur, Lauren Wulf, Annika Wurm and Aubrey Wurm.

Students performing in the Hymn Playing Event include: Jonah Bauer, Amber Brockberg, Sabastian Bui, Taponidhi Cherukuri, Rachel Eberhart, Carson Eichler, Nolan Eichler, Lydia Ellsworth, Nolan Gross, Jackson Hahn, Sydney Hahn, Avery Hanson, Makenzie Hawks, Jorgen Johnson, Kjersten Johnson, Davina Lafomo, Xochi Markel, Katie Marshall, Autumn Merchant, Taiya Merchant, Belka Naweji, Emly Naweji, Camden Olson, Emma Olson, Alaina Overby, Obed Sobolayi, Elise Ulvestad, Aubrey Underwood, Aaliyah Wendinger, Melanie Wiskur, Olivia Wiskur, Annika Wurm and Aubrey Wurm.

Students participating in the Ensemble Event include: Aly Bachar, Jacquie Bachar, Lydia Ellsworth, Evian Johnson, Trestin Johnson, Davina Lafomo, Autumn Merchant, Taiya Merchant, Obed Sobolayi, and Lauren Wulf.

Several students took home trophies for three years of participation. Two six-year trophies were awarded to Trestin Johnson and Amelia Koenig for their participation in the Solo Event. Amber Brockberg received a BMTA Senior Award in recognition of her commendable history of festival performances.

Participating teachers include Diana Christiansen, Florence Evans (Flandreau), Bethany Foote, Cynthia Jorgensen (Lake Benton, Minnesota), Deb Kalsbeck, Dr. Xuan Kang, Tammy Knudtson, Joan Riessen, Nancy Sandro (Hendricks, Minnesota), and Melanie Timmerman.

Adjudicating for the event were Tammy Knudtson, from Brookings, Carson Covey from Sioux Falls, South Dakota and Dr. Grigor Katchatrayan from Concordia University, Moorhead, Minnesota. Piano teachers in the Brookings area interested in belonging to BMTA are invited to contact Melanie Timmerman at 605-690-7886 for more information.